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Gas prices are something to celebrate this holiday season, being at a five-year low. It looks like consumers are responding by driving out of town for the holidays. For many of these winter drivers, cold weather and icy roads could be a factor. With all this in mind, AutoMD.com compiled the top nine tips for winterizing your vehicles: 1. Check the antifreeze (coolant). The engine cooling system should be filled with a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and distilled water to prevent freezing and boiling over. Antifreeze testers are available at your local auto parts store to test the mixture. To keep the cooling system operating at peak performance, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for changing the antifreeze (flush and fill). 2. Change the engine oil. Use the recommended oil viscosity range for winter. 5W-30 motor oil flows quicker in cold weather than 20W-50. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend 5W-30 oil for year round protection. 3. Check the ... read more

Regular Vehicle Maintenance Tips: Check the Oil –Get in the habit of checking your engine’s oil a few times between oil changes. If you notice that your oil level is often lower than it should be, contact your mechanic before your “check oil” indicator comes on. Just adding oil every time that you notice it is low is not a good idea. This could result in big problems for your engine including: Oil Contamination, worn out engine seals, and even completely locking down your engine. Check the Tires — Check your tires’ pressure every 1,000 miles. Pressure gauges are a pretty cheap investment and easy to use. Good air pressure will help you maintain the best gas mileage for your vehicle. Also have your tires rotated regularly to keep tread wear even on all four tires. Check the Brakes — Your brakes should be checked any time that your vehicle is serviced. Look for problem signs like squ ... read more

Kids are back in school, no more vacations, and cooler evenings are right around the corner. It is the perfect time to perform some inspections on your vehicle to make sure it will be ready for colder weather. Go ahead and check the recommended service schedules in your owner’s manual. Engine Performance: If you’re experiencing rough idling, bad starting, or stalling, it needs to be corrected before the cold weather makes existing problems worse. Fuel: Keep moisture and trash out of your fuel by using a fuel system cleaner. Follow the directions on the cleaner when using and be sure to know the size of your fuel tank. This can be found in your owner’s manual. Oil: Most vehicles require an oil change every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Check your owner’s manual to be certain. If most of your driving is stop and go, be sure to keep your oil changed as recommended by your vehicles manufacturer. Cooling System: Check the coolant level and ... read more

When it’s time to head out, keep a few of these tips in mind. If your windows are fogging up, use the air conditioner to dehumidify the air inside of your vehicle. If you don’t have an air conditioning system, open the rear windows a crack to allow air to circulate. Slowing down on wet roads is crucial. A wet road surface will offer the driver less grip compared to a dry road surface. Plus, braking distances can double and the ability to steer around an obstacle can be reduced. Keep a further distance from the vehicle in front of you since braking distances can be longer on wet roads. Staying back will also take you away from the tire spray of the vehicle in front of you, giving you better visibility. Vision technique is paramount to safe driving. Look further up the road and always look to where you want to be going. Jerky or rushed steering can cause loss of control, especially on rain-slicked roads. Drive with smooth steering inputs. If you’re ... read more

Before you head out, check on the condition of your vehicle and tires. Tires are an underrated safety feature on your vehicle. They should have plenty of tread depth to evacuate standing water from between the road surface and the tire. If your current tires are worn down to anywhere near the wear bars (3/32nds or 4/32nds of an inch), it’s time to think about replacing your tires. Tire pressures that are too low, or too high, can lead to reduced traction, premature tread wear, or tire failure. Your tire pressure should be checked regularly (at least once per month) to be sure they are properly inflated. Outward vision is critical to safe driving. Your vehicle’s wiper blades should also be checked for age and wear. If they leave streaks across your windshield, it’s time to replace them. Of course, it’s just as important to be seen, as it is to see. Turn your lights on and be sure that all of your vehicle’s lights are in working order. Use the full headlight system a ... read more

Professional Automotive Services – Tune-Up in Greenwood SC Tune-up intervals can vary between vehicles. There are some signs that can alert you that it may be time to bring your vehicle in for a tune-up. If your vehicle is stalling often, not starting correctly, or making a louder noise during acceleration, it may be a sign that your vehicle is in need of a tune-up. The manufacturer’s recommendations in your vehicle owner’s guide can give you the best information on when to have your vehicle serviced for a tune-up. To maintain your vehicle’s quality and value it is best to go by the manufacturer’s recommendations. Professional Automotive Services offers the following services for your vehicle in addition to tune-ups: Power Steering Flush Brake Fluid Flush Transmission Fluid Flush Cooling System Flush Rear Differential Service 4WD Drive Line Service Timing belt Change If you feel your vehi ... read more

Car batteries require special care. In the summertime, the heat can be damaging to your car battery. Here are some tips to squeeze as much life out of your battery as possible. Add Distilled Water: Make sure the level in each cell is full. Use only distilled water to fill the cells that are low. This may need to be checked more frequently in the summer time as it can evaporate quickly in warmer weather. Keep Your Battery Clean: Clean any dirt, grease, or corrosion off of the battery posts. You may need to remove the clamps to clean thoroughly. A dirty connection will weaken the charge. Secure the Battery: Make sure your battery is secured and sitting correctly. If your battery is moving around, it could be loosening your connections and spilling battery acid. Park in Shelter: In the south, we see temperatures in the 90’s during the summer. Extreme heat from Mother Nature and the heat generated under your hood acce ... read more

Have you recently noticed uneven tire wear in the middle tread of your tires? If so, and the outside tread still have depth to them, over-inflation is most likely the cause.The leading cause of this uneven wear in the middle of the tire tread is generally over-inflation.The tread in the middle of the tire will bulge from the higher air pressure when a tire is over-inflated. This causes that middle tread to wear before the outside. How to avoid center wear from over-inflation: Consult your vehicle manufacturer’s information to find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle. The “max press” number on the sidewall of your tire is not recommended for everyday driving but instead indicates the most pressure that a tire can hold and carry the maximum load of your vehicle. Different types of vehicles have different optimum pressures. For example a sports car would have higher tire pressure than a luxury car. Risks of driving with over-inflated tir ... read more

At ProAuto, we want you to have the best summer possible. Being stuck on the side of the road is not in anyone’s plans for a nice vacation. To prevent many issues, we are offering some car care tips on what you should consider maintaining and servicing before a big trip. Call us today to schedule an appointment so your vacation is nothing but fun in the sun! Brakes and Regular Maintenance: As one of your most important safety features, brakes need to be in working order before you head out on vacation. Schedule an appointment to have your brakes and pads, as well as, oil levels, belts and hoses, air filter, and have your windshield wipers replaced before you leave. Tires: It’s always a good idea to stop and check for wear on your tires because tread depth can keep you maneuvering safely. Optimal tire pressure can improve gas mileage. You can check your tire pressure at home with a tire gauge, and tread depth by placing a penny ... read more

To limit your risk of suddenly needing repairs you cannot afford, purchasing Preventive Maintenance Protection (PM) is not a bad idea. When you pay for PM service, you limit the risk that it will take more money to repair your vehicle when – not if – it needs repair. You pay dollars in advance, expecting that you will have to spend more later than what you are paying for PM. It is a bit like buying insurance protection. With it, you spend your money with the anticipation that you will need coverage; however, the insurance company collects your dollars in the hope that you will NOT need coverage, so that it will have free money. PM is different from insurance, in that we are not betting, or hoping, that your car will not need repairs. We do go out of our way to keep your car in top condition, so that a breakdown will be less likely to happen. We do our best because we want loyal repeat customers – and loyal, satisfied customers recommend their personal repair ... read more